Process of treating bristles



FIPBSOE as 1.412.;155 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN SINGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO E. I, DU PONT DENEMOURS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF TREATING BRISTLES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN SINGER, of Newark, in the county of Essex,and in the State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Processes of Treating Bristles, and do here by declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My lIjlVGIltlOIl relates particularly to a process or treatin bristlesthat is to sa the bristlesmi mm animals, suc li as hogs, in which thebristles are treated in such a manner as to bleach them, and otherwiseimprove their vali1efor com1nercial articles.

The object of my invention is to treat bristles, such for example, ashog bristles, in such a manner as to bleach them effectively, and bymeans of a process which will cause the bristles to remain free fromcolor after bleaching. Another object is to provide a process by meansof which bristles of a very low grade and which are very yellow in colormay be treated in such a way, that they may be used to the same extentand to even greater advantage than high grade bristles that have beentreated by previous processes. Another advantage is to treat bristles insuch a manner that a much greater proportion of the length of thebristle may be used in making up the bristles into commercial products,as for example, hair brushes. That is to say, by means of my process intreating the bristles, it is not necessary to first remove the end ofthe bristle carrying the sack in which the bristle has grown, but theprocess is such as to almost entirely destroy the sack, thus making itpossible to utilize this end of the bristle without cutting, especiallywhere, as in the case of hair brushes, the final trimming of thebristles in the brush will remove the ends which carry the sacks in thecase of a certain'proportion of the bristles. The saving in the lengthof the bristle is also due to the fact, that my process effectivelybleaches the bristle much closer to the end thereof which carries theflag, so that a much shorter length of the bristles is necessary to beremoved at this end. As a consequence, the bristles treated in accord-Specificacion of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

ance with my invention, may be used to make two separate lengths ofbristles, that is to say, two separate bristles for insertion in a hairbrush, whereas previously the length of the bristles was so reduced bycutting the two ends thereof, that only one bristle for insertion into ahair brush could be obtained from a single bristle in the raw state.Again, another advantage of my invention is the fact that the bristlesresulting therefrom are much stronger, inasmuch as the ends carrying thesacks are retained. Again, my process results in giving the bristles asheen, even in the case of low grade Russian bristles, whereas formerly,such sheen was obtainable only in Japanese bristles. Furthermore, bleaving the sacks on the ends of the brist es, liquids applied tobrushes made therewith, do not so readily penetrate the canals of thebristles, and such bristles, therefore, dry much more quickly. Also,because of the fact that comparatively weak solutions are used inaccordance with my process, the resulting bristles are less brittle andless apt to be broken when folded for insertion into the brush backs.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detaileddescription thereof contained hereinafter.

While my'inven'tion is capable of being carried out in many differentways, for the purpose of illustration I shall describe only certain waysof carrying out the same herein.

For example, I may proceed as follows:

A quantity of the bristles, as for example, low grade Russian bristlesis soaked in a solution containin r oer-oxide of h dro en.

b mg

for from ten to twelve lioii'r 'sT'Tliis solution may be comprised oftwo and one-half gallons of three percent strength commercial hydrogenperoxide solution, made from barium peroxide, to which has been addedone pound of sodium peroxide dissolved in 12% gallons of wa tfii afidfiii hich is added 11 fluid ounces of concentrated sulphuric acid. Ifnecessary, the solution may be neutralized with ammonia to remove anyexcess of The bristles are then washed with water. The treatment withthis solution oxidizes the coloring mat- V nrarrsa.

ters, the materials of which the sacks are comprised, and the materialsleft by the sweat of the animal, thus giving the bristles a light blondcolor. Thereafter the bristles are treated with a solution containing ahydrosulfite which may be obtained by adding from five to ten grams ofzinc dust to 121} gallons of a solution made of 25% of sodium bisulphitesolution of a strength of 35 B., and of water. The bristles are left inthis solution for 2 to 10 hours. Instead of the mentioned solution, Imay use a solution of sodium bisulphite solution of a strength of 35 B.,and 75% of water. By this last treatment, the bristles are subjected toa reducing action which makes them practically colorless throughout thelength of the same, down to a point very near to the end of the flag,and which gives them a very high lustre. The bristles are then againwashed with water which may be slightly acidified with hydrochloric acidto remove the sodium salts which might otherwise crystallize upon thebristles.

While I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to beunderstood that many changes may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit thereof.

I claim 1. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjectingthe bristles to an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide.

2. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide, and then toa reducing agent.

3. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent, and then to a reducing agent comprisinga hydrosulfite acid.

4. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide, and then toa reducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid.

5. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent, then washing the bristles, and then to areducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid.

6. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide, thenwashing the bristles, and then to a reducing agent comprising ahydrosulfite acid.

7. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent, then washing the bristles, then to areducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid, and then again washingthe bristles with water slightly acidified with hydrochloric acid.

8. The process of treating bristles which comprises subjecting thebristles to an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide, thenwashing the bristles, then to a reducing agent comprising a hydrosulfiteacid, and then again washing the bristles with water slightly acidifiedwith hydrochloric acid.

9. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent, then removingthe flags and then cutting the bristles in the middle.

10. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent containinghydrogen peroxide, then removing the flags and then cutting the bristlesin the middle.

11. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprisessubjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent, then to areducing agent, then removing the flags and then cutting the bristles inthe middle.

12. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent containinghydrogen peroxide, then to a reducing agent, then removing the flags andthen cutting the bristles in the middle.

13. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent, then to areducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid, then removing the flagsand then cutting the bristles in the middle. 7

14. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent containinghydrogen peroxide, then to a reducing agent comprising a hydrosulfiteacid, then removing the flags and then cutting the bristles in themiddle.

15. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent, then washingthe bristles, then to a reducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid,then removing the flags and then cutting the bristles in the middle.

16. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent containinghydrogen peroxide, then washing the bristles, then to a reducing agentcomprising a hydrosulfite acid, then removing the flags and then cuttingthe bristles in the middle.

17. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent, then washingthe bristles, then to a reducing agent comprising a hydrosulfite acid,then again washing the bristles with water slightly acidified withhydrochloric acid, then removing the flags and then cutting the bristlesin the middle.

ammo a aware; WEMMENT & canvass MODiFL CANON 0F TExnLEs & HBERS,

18. The process of treating bristles containing the bristle sacks Whichcomprises subjecting the bristles to an oxidizing agent containinghydrogen peroxide, then Wash 0 ing the bristles, then to a reducingagent comprising hydrosulphurous acid, then again Washing the bristleswith Water slightly acidified with hydrochloric acid,

then removing the flags and then cutting the bristles in the middle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

NATHAN SINGER. Witnesses L. W. STE'rsoN, LEON G. LORIMER.

